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Organizational Structures, Programmes and Activities

Empowering Canadian minorities by enforcing social justice, securing and safeguarding


fundamental freedoms, strengthening national and international solidarity, advancing
socio economic development and promoting global security, human welfare and peace.

FAAVM – AFPMV
*JUSTICE - FREEDOM - SOLIDARITY - PEACE*
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of
all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the
world”

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PREFACE

The finding, interpretations and definitions expressed herein are the results of research
works of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Assembly,
Board of Governors nor the Board of Directors of the FAAVM or the peoples it
represents.

The FAAVM does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The
territories, boundaries, frontiers, denominations and other information described in this
work do not imply any judgment on the part of the FAAVM. The views and purposes of
this documentation are intended to be a reference publication to help everyone better
understand FAAVM mission and mandate, inclusively critical issues facing visible
minority communities within Canada and tangible analysis of their situation with
practical approach toward socio-economic development of civil societies and the
implementation of minority rights and civil rights at the regional and international levels.

This guide also provide complete overview of comprehensive approach on FAAVM


organizational operations and founding structures, specifically designed to provide
insightful understanding of the work of FAAVM in part and/or in whole.

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FOREWORD

The different organs and bodies of FAAVM are involved in nearly every aspects of
human rights and development, with activities ranging from civil rights enforcement,
human rights promotions, socio economic research, development and analysis, to
financial and technical assistance from governments and private enterprises. The
FAAVM plays a crucial supporting role towards developing minority groups and
communities, to shape and implement their strategies to reduce poverty and stimulate
growth. We also place a high priority on communicating knowledge about development
to underprivileged and disadvantaged groups.

This publication also aims to make the FAAVM more accessible, explaining how we are
organized and what we do. It explains how our institutions are structured, how we operate
and how we focus our efforts on visible minority groups and communities and address
the major challenges in socio-economic development.

We hope this publication will increase awareness and understanding of the FAAVM
mission, goals, objectives and activities among a wide range of audiences and
stakeholders, and contribute to our collective fight against poverty.

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Part I

WHAT ARE THE VISIBLE MINORITIES?

Visible minorities are defined as persons, other than aboriginal peoples, who are non-
Caucasian in race, or non-white in colour. Almost 4 million Canadians are identified as
visible minority in the 2001 census, accounting for 13.4 percent of the total population of
Canada. These represent an increase from 1996 when that portion was 11.2 percent and a
major change from 1991 9.4 percent and 1981 4.7 percent.

Figure.1.1
Proportion of Visible Minorities, Canada, 1991, 1996, 2001
1991 1996 2001

Canada 9.4 11.2 13.4

Newfoundland and Labrador 0.8 0.7 0.8

Prince Edward Island 1.0 1.1 0.9

Nova Scotia 3.4 3.5 3.8

New Brunswick 1.2 1.1 1.3

Quebec 5.6 6.2 7.0

Ontario 13.0 15.8 19.1

Manitoba 6.9 7.0 7.9

Saskatchewan 2.6 2.8 2.9

Alberta 9.4 10.1 11.2

British Columbia 14.2 17.9 21.6

Yukon 2.7 3.3 3.6

Northwest Territories 3.5 3.8 4.2

Nunavut 0.9 0.6 0.8

Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census: analysis series, Canada’s ethnocultural portrait: The changing
mosaic (2003).

At the provincial level, British Columbia had the highest proportion of visible minorities,
representing 21.6 percent of its population, followed by Ontario at 19.1 percent.

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People of Chinese origin are Canada’s largest visible minority group, with a population
of more than one million. In 2001, they made up 3.5 percent of the country’s population,
followed by south Asians 3.percent and Blacks 2.2 percent.

Figure.1.2
Reported Ethnic Origin, Canada and Ontario, 2001
Reported Ethnic Origin Canada Ontario

Number * Per cent Number * Per cent

British Isles origins 9,971,615 33.6 4,454,010 39.5

English 5,978,875 20.2 2,711,485 24.0

Irish 3,822,660 12.9 1,761,280 15.6

Scottish 4,157,210 14.0 1,843,110 16.3

French origins 4,710,580 15.9 1,240,065 11.0

Acadian 71,590 0.2 8,745 0.1

French 4,668,410 15.8 1,235,765 10.9

Aboriginal origins 1,319,890 4.5 308,105 2.7

North American origins 11,919,290 40.2 3,405,215 30.2

American (USA) 250,005 0.8 86,855 0.8

Canadian 11,682,680 39.4 3,350,275 29.7

Caribbean origins 503,805 1.7 347,865 3.1

Latin, Central and South American origins 244,430 0.8 114,740 1.0

European origins 8,731,955 29.5 3,882,500 34.4

African origins 294,705 1.0 173,700 1.5

Arab origins 347,955 1.2 149,490 1.3

West Asian origins 204,950 0.7 118,810 1.1

South Asian origins 963,190 3.2 592,500 5.3

East and Southeast origins 1,787,685 6.0 840,710 7.4

Oceania origins 48,595 0.2 12,135 0.1

* Represent total single and multiple responses and therefore the sum of the responses is larger than
the total number of respondents.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census.

While visible minorities have been in Canada since the 1600s, the vast majority of this
population has come through immigration from about the 1960s. And while Europe
continues to be a key source of immigration to Canada, there has been an increasing shift,

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with Asia and to a lesser extent, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, accounting
for increasing numbers of immigrants.

Demographic characteristics differ among the multiple sub-groups within the larger
visible minority population. For example, the Black community has a larger number of
younger members, higher numbers of women than men, and lower numbers of older age
groups in comparison to the other groups. Patterns of both internal and external migration
have also helped to shape its broader demographic characteristics.

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF VISIBLE MINORITIES

Issues facing the community, with few exceptions, are well known through numerous
studies done over recent decades. Actions on recommendations, however, have not been
forthcoming. Also noted was that many of these studies tend to be inaccessible – housed
in universities, governmental bodies and libraries and not user friendly for the actors in
the field, who often do not have resources or capacity to make full use of findings and
recommendations.

Deepening of poverty across visible minority communities has been accelerated by


liberalization and deregulation of the free market economy, accompanied by devolution
of essential social services from upper to lower levels of government and cutbacks in
social spending. There is inadequate attention and response to this crisis as it impacts
visible minority communities, either at the level of policy or public discourse. Recent
studies cited in this report, have raised the alarm on this issue as one of critical
importance in Canada.

Systemic and structural racism – through major societal institutions – from educational,
labour market, to justice and service delivery systems – create barriers, which prevent
visible minority communities from fully developing their potential and participating
equitably in Canadian society. These barriers also serve to rob the society of valuable
human resources.

Mainstreaming visible minority issues was viewed as critical. The standpoint from which
the communities wage their struggles for access and opportunities came into question.
Despite their growing numbers and contributions to Canada, visible minorities continue
to be viewed as a ‘special interest’ group. A need to reshape the community’s issues from
being perceived as ‘immigrant/othered’, to its rightful place in the mainstream of
Canadian society, was named as a priority issue to be addressed.

Governmental agencies need to recognize that visible minority voluntary organizations


are dealing with the impact of deep systemic and structural racism and face serious
disadvantages at the level of capacity and sustainability. Their respective communities
are unlikely to have financial capacity to make up for the shortfalls in governmental
support. Developmental support and program funding would help these organizations to
build and sustain necessary organizational and human resource capacity.

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Despite the fact that visible minority leaders are knowledgeable, experienced and
insightful on the multiple issues facing their communities, there is a persistent exclusion
of their presence at the tables of policy-making, or if included, are peripheral to decision-
making structures. It is critical that policy-making bodies examine the inherent systemic
and structural barriers that work to exclude the experiences and knowledge of these
communities and ensure that visible minority leaders are included.

The visible minority community in Canada has deep roots in the society and is growing at
a fairly rapid rate. However, it is still perceived as an ‘immigrant’ and ‘special interest
group’ and the community has not found a cohesive voice within the larger society.
Visible minority leaders view a national voice and visibility as critical in its reach for
equitable participation in Canadian society. A mechanism – such as a national network of
organizations would facilitate the communities meeting, sharing and bringing a cohesive
voice on national policies and development agendas.

It is recommended that visible minority communities/leaders engage in dialogue to


critically evaluate how they understand and view their issues and place within the larger
mainstream society. The perception of their communities as ‘othered groups’ with
problems shaped elsewhere and their persistent location at the margins of Canadian
society, contribute to their exclusion from tables of national policy making and
development agendas and an inability to participate equitably in society.

The National Picture: Visible Minority Communities in Canada (1996)

Figure.2.1
National 3,197,480 28,528,125 –total population

Chinese 860,150

South Asians 670,590

Black 573,860 Includes Black Canadians and immigrants from


Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Arab/West Asian 244,665

Filipino 234,195

Latin American 176,975

South East Asian 172,765

NIE (not identified 69,745 Likely visible minority – identified by nationality- e.g.
elsewhere) West Indian, Fiji, etc.

Japanese 68,135

Korean 64,840

Multiple 61,575 More than one visible minority group

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 http://www.statcan.ca-english

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Systemic and structural racism play a major role in shaping issues facing all visible
minority communities across Canada, but there are significant differences in the impact
across the different racialized groups. For example, Ornstein (2000) concludes that while
no ethno-racial group is immune from poverty, there are groups in which more than half
of all the families live below the poverty line – Ghanaians are the poorest in Toronto with
adult unemployment rate at 45%, followed closely by Afghans, Somalians and
Ethiopians. Unemployment rate for African and Black youth is at 38%, compared to 20%
for all youth.

Grace-Edward Galabuzi’s study, Canada Creeping Economic Apartheid (2001) based on


Statistics Canada’s Survey of Labour Income Dynamics for incomes for 1996, 1997, and
1998, sheds light on the growing racialization of the gap between the rich and poor in
Canada. He found a ‘persistent and sizeable gap between economic performance of
racialised group members and other Canadians over the period 1996-1998. The report
notes that even as these groups become demographically more significant – visible
minorities are set to become one fifth of the national population early in this century –
they continue to confront racial discrimination in many aspects of their everyday life.
This, Galabuzi points out, is widening with little public or policy attention. He concludes
that historical patterns of systemic racial discrimination is key to understanding the
persistent over-representation of racialised groups in low paying jobs, low income
sectors, higher unemployment, poverty and social marginalization.

The absence of representation from the visible minority communities at the policy-
making tables also means an absence of their specific issues in such critical spaces. This
is a major concern to community leaders. Inaccessibility to policy and decision-making is
seen to be exacerbated when mainstream organizations do not adequately represent issues
of visible minority communities in their absence at tables of decision-making.

VISIBLE MINORITY YOUTH

For a significant number of visible minority young people – both newcomers and
Canadian born, poverty is a reality in their lives – this has a deeper impact on some
communities than others, as pointed out in Ornstein’s study. While many of these young
people continue to make some gains despite structural inequities in the education system
and labour market, a significant number struggle with issues such as high drop out rates
especially of male students, teenage pregnancy and dead end jobs, sometimes leading to
illegal activities.

Streaming and de-streaming continue to be critical issues facing some communities.


Systemic barriers which include selection criteria for academic streams, bias in school
curriculum, shifting of funding from public to private schools, teacher indifference and/
or overt racism and high drop out rates are some of the elements facing young people
from visible minority communities within the education system.

Inadequate access to apprenticeship programs, skills development and support initiatives


in entrepreneurship, as well as mentoring opportunities and role models, contribute to the

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marginalization of young people. Community leaders point out serious lack of facilities
to provide a safe and nurturing space for young visible minority members and inadequate
responses from the older generation to include and listen to them.

A recent study by the Canadian Council on Social Development on immigrant youth in


Canada, Immigrant Youth in Canada (1999), estimated that 230,000 immigrant youth and
children arrived in Canada between 1996 and 1998. About 44% were from Asia and the
Pacific region and 22% from Africa and the Middle East, with most of these heading for
the major urban centres in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Settlement and
acculturation issues are high on the agenda for these young people, including language
skills, which the report points out that over two thirds of these recent immigrants age
under 15 spoke neither of the two official languages. The study found that most new
immigrants interviewed reported experiences of racism and bigotry and found that their
accents and features created barriers to being accepted as Canadians, with normal
problems associated with the school system becoming magnified for them. Challenges
encountered by these young people included overcoming social isolation and inter-
generational challenges.

VISIBLE MINORITY HEALTHCARE

Issues specific to visible minority women are viewed as being neglected, with
practitioners lacking a vested interest in the specific needs of visible minorities.
HIV/AIDS is a growing concern in several communities. While the communities
continue to play critical roles, lack of resources, information and credible research on
diseases unique to different visible minority populations, are concerns in the community.
Information targeted to women and girls in visible minority communities, particularly
with regard to domestic violence as a healthcare issue, is seen as inadequate. A study is
currently being undertaken by Women’s Health in Women’s Hands to examine the
impact of racism on women’s health.

Racism, sexism and classism, structurally integrated into mainstream service delivery
agencies, compound the inequities faced by women within visible minority communities.
Visible minority women face a triple bind in their attempt to negotiate Canadian society:
as women dealing with gender-based inequity, as immigrants facing settlement issues,
and as women of colour facing systemic and structural racial barriers. Gender based
violence, single parent status, and overrepresentation in the low-income sector of the
economy, are serious concerns for a significant number of women in visible minority
communities.

GENDER BASE ABUSE AND VIOLENCE

This issue is viewed as both an internal and external one. While some work has been
done on the issue and women leaders from within the community have been active in
naming and taking action, much more work is needed for the communities to talk and
take action on the issues. External influences including economic inequity, contribute to
the cycle of violence and abuse, through limiting their ability to leave violent

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relationships. Under funding of organizations contribute to the inadequacy of responses
on these issues within the community. One negative aspect attached to this issue is the
perception within the mainstream that violence, including sexual abuse, as a cultural trait
of some of these communities. As noted by the FREDA report (2000), ‘discussions of
violence in Aboriginal and immigrant and refugee communities use an essentialist notion
of culture to explain violence’. Interviewees pointed out the need for credible research
and information on the different forms of violence and abuse in different visible minority
communities – including violence and abuse against women and girls, sexual violence,
elder abuse and violence among youth.

LABOUR MARKET AND WOMEN

As noted in studies including Galabuzi (2001), systemic and structural racism impedes
visible minority women in the workforce through unemployment, under-employment and
in the changing structure of work. The Contingent Workers Project in Toronto: Breaking
the Myth of Flexible Work (2000), notes that racialised women are over represented in
low paid, low end occupations, low income sectors and in the growing unregulated
temporary or contingent work. ‘And We Still Ain’t Satisfied’ –Gender Inequality in
Canada (2001) notes that ‘women in racialized groups are much more likely to be poor.
In 1995, 37% of women of colour had incomes below Statistics Canada’s Low Income
Cutoffs, compared with 19% of other women and their unemployment rate was 15.3%,
compared to 9.4% for other women’. The domestic worker category adds another
dimension to the plight of visible minority women in the Canadian labour market. In a
report by the Philippine Women’s Centre in Vancouver, the deskilling of the Filipina
immigrant women in the Canadian labour market is described as socio-economic
violence – low wages, insecure working conditions and separation from families left back
home.

CIVIL RIGHTS

There is a growing concern across visible minority communities in Canada on the


question of civil liberties and in particular, issues such as race/ethnic profiling heightened
by the September 11th tragedy in the USA. The current Bill C36, calling for expansive
security mechanisms ostensibly to deal with the threat of terrorism in Canada, is creating
fear and deep insecurity in communities. Many immigrants and refugees, particularly
those within the Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities express concern that gains
made in Canada on just and humane refugee and immigration policies are at great risk of
being rolled back. As most communities do not have a voice at these policy-making
tables, their members continue to feel vulnerable.

Sources: The National Reference Group on Visible Minorities – Voluntary Sector


Initiative Final Report – November 15, 2001

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Part II

HOW THE FAAVM CANADA IS ORGANIZED

This portion explains how the FAAVM CANADA is governed and how it is organized to
do its work. It also provides detailed information on the FAAVM institutions and other
organizational units, bodies, organs and agencies.

GOVERNANCE OF THE FAAVM

Founding Documents.

Each of the institution, bodies and organs of the FAAVM has its own articles or
constitution of agreement or an equivalent founding document. These documents legally

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define the purpose, organization, and operations, including the mechanisms by which it is
owned and governed.

Figure.3.1

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

↓↓↓↓↓

BOARD OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

↓↓↓↓↓

MANAGEMENT AND STAFFS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The FAAVM operates under the authority of the board of governors. One governor who
is usually a high moral person with a good reputation within his community, in which
she/he belongs to, and/or national origin represents each of the members of the visible
minority groups. Once a year, the board of governors meet in a joint session known as the
annual meeting. The executive directors represent the views of visible minority
representing governors throughout the year.

BOARD OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

General operations of FAAVM are delegated to a smaller group of representatives, the


board executive directors, with the president and chief executive officer serving as
chairman of the board. The executive directors sometimes referred as to EDs, are based at
the FAAVM headquarters in Ottawa-Ontario Canada. The board of executive directors
(BED) is responsible for policy decisions affecting the FAAVM’s general operations

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including budget proposals. The executive directors normally meet twice a week to
oversee the FAAVM overall businesses. Each executive director also serves on one or
more standing committee such as: audit, budget, development effectiveness, and
personnel and executive directors’ administrative matters.

The board normally makes decision by consensus, however, the relative voting power of
individual executive directors is based on the share that held members of the visible
minority of the community they represent, under the article of agreement of the FAAVM.
The executive directors also serve ex officio as executive directors and as member of the
board of directors.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

The President & CEO is elected by the board of executive directors and serves as
president of each organs, bodies and institutions of the FAAVM. The initial term for the
president is five years; a second term could be five years or fewer. There is no mandatory
retirement age.

FAAVM units report to the office of the president, and through him to the executive
directors. One exception being the Operations Evaluation (OEs) at the FAAVM, which
report directly to the executive directors. The president delegates some of this oversight
responsibility to the managing directors.

MANAGING DIRECTORS

The managing directors assist the president in broad oversight of the FAAVM. Each of
the managing directors, or MDs, oversees several organizational units. One managing
directors also serve as executive vice president. A few senior officers also report directly
to the president rather to a managing director; they include the FAAVM General Counsel
(GC), and Chief Economics (CE), inclusively the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The
Executive Vice President (EVP) and the Secretary-General (SG) also report directly to
the president.

THE FAAVM ORGANS, BODIES AND INSTITUTIONS

The institutions that make up the FAAVM CANADA specialize in different aspects of
human rights, civil rights and poverty reduction, however, they work collaboratively
toward the over aching goal of socio, economic, political and cultural challenging
imbalances of visible minority communities and social development.

Through its policy advice and technical assistance, the FAAVM supports a broad range
of programs aimed at improving living standards within the visible minority communities
across Canada, and with its financial resources, a skilled staff, and an extensive
knowledge base to help visible minority communities achieve stable, sustainable, and
equitable growth.

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STRUCTURE OF THE FAAVM

The FAAVM is a large complex organization, and it is useful to be familiar with its
overall organizational structure.

Figure 3.2

Board of SEDC → National Assembly


Governors ←
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓
↓↓↓ Global Outreach
Ministries for Peace National Child
Board of GOMP Protection
Executive Directors Convention
↓↓↓
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓ ↓↓↓

Office of the Canada Peace National Youth


President & CEO Tribunal Development
Congress
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓
Canada Commission Federal Commission
Vice Presidencies on for the
Civil Rights Advancement of
Women - FCAW
↓↓↓ ↓↓↓

General International
Management Secretariat for ←←← Working Groups
Human Rights Special Issues

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The National Assembly is the highest body of FAAVM, in which representing members
of visible minority communities have one vote or one governor per community. The
National Assembly meets twice a year at the FAAVM Headquarters in Ottawa and sets
policies and recommendations to the Board of Governors. The National Assembly’s
resolutions may carry significant governance importance in the overall operations, but it
cannot directly make any laws or take decisions except on internal matters such as the
overall budget.

THE CANADA PEACE TRIBUNAL

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The Canada peace tribunal deals with issues relating to peace and security. It has the
power to take decision, which are binding on visible minority communities. The Canada
Peace Tribunal is composed of seven (7) civil rights judges, which are elected and/or
nominated by the National Assembly to make recommendations on crucial issues
affecting visible minority communities such as environmental, economical, health,
cultural, religious and children and youth; where minority’s rights are threaten and
violated. All of the seven (7) judges must agree before the Canada Peace Tribunal adopts
a decision, this process maybe by vote.

The peace tribunal is also established as a permanent institution and has the power to
exercise its jurisdiction over persons victimized by injustice, whereby people are denied
their basic human rights and deprived of their rights to justice.

The jurisdiction of the Peace Tribunal shall be limited to the most serious crimes of
concerns to the international community and shall have jurisdictions over serious crimes
against humanity, recognizing that crimes against humanity are constant and imminent
threats to peace, security, and well being of the world.

THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

This secretariat is mostly responsible for servicing all issues that are related to
international laws and international human rights standards on human rights, as well as
the implementation of the various international procedures and economic cooperation,
and of every aspects of international human rights mechanism. The secretariat is also a
FAAVM specialized agency and covers educational, scientific and cultural levels, and
may also work in cooperation with other minority communities around the world.

THE CANADA COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

As a major component of the FAAVM, the Canada Commission on Civil Rights, which
fundamental purpose and functions include deciding and resolving disputes between
communities across Canada, individuals and group of citizens based on race, gender, age
and religion, where the commission may in time offer advisory opinions on legal matters
and may intervene where national peace is threaten and where racial conflicts arise.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The committee is composed of members of the visible minority communities appointed


or elected by the Canada Peace Tribunal from candidates proposed by the National
Assembly, so, those candidates who are not elected are placed on a reserve list of
additional members. On a basis of a rotation system, the composition of the advisory
committee will change overtime.

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Advisory committee members are selected upon their recognition within their
communities and are very much knowledgeable and are sometimes experts in the field of
minority protection. They serve in their individual capacities and are independent and
impartial. The involvement of an impartial expert body in assessing minority issues may
facilitate the tasks of the Canada Commission on Civil Rights an important decision
making body of the FAAVM, therefore, relies heavily on the work of the advisory
committee.

The Canada Peace Tribunal (CPT) must file reports within one year of their appointment
and every six (6) months or whenever requested by the National Assembly. The advisory
committee may invite the Canada peace tribunal to request ad hoc reports addressing
situations that may arise in the interval between periodic reports.

The advisory committee is authorized to receive information from sources other than
states reports; for example, it may also organize meetings with government
representatives and independent sources. The advisory committee may also conduct on-
site visits to places where considering their reports, during which the committee meets
with the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), minority communities,
academics, and other interested and concerned parties. These practices enable the
committee to better assess the situation of minorities. NGOs and minority communities
are free to submit information on their own initiative.

FEDERAL COMMISSION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN – FCAW

The FCAW is established to monitor compliance with the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and addresses discriminations
against women in all spheres of their lives. It broadly defines discriminations against
women as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has
the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by
women of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural, civil, religious or any other field”. The FCAW also accept individual complaints
and investigate grave or systematic violations of women’s rights protected by the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW).

The individual complaint process can provide relief to individual victims and can also
draw attention to a particular issue at the national and international levels by mobilizing
the media to highlight the severity or extent of a violation. Positive committee decision
can be used as persuasive evidence in domestic litigation and to advocate for legal and
constitutional reform.

The FCAW also seeks to enact federal laws and legislation criminalizing all forms of
violence against women and to strictly enforce existing laws, and ensure that
governments enact measures to change social norms that perpetuate traditional practices
that are harmful and discriminatory against women and girls.

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The principle of accountability is the core principle upon which the work of the FCAW is
centered, and runs through the broad spectrum of women’s human rights advocacy; and
can be seen as multi-dimensional.

THE NATIONAL HEALTH COUNCIL – NHC

The goals, aims and objectives of the National Health Council – NHC is to encourage
governments to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the globalization of health
in an era when the NHC strives to acting as partners with governments in designing and
implementing health policies and programs, to playing a vital role and serving primarily
to facilitate ways in which individuals and organizations can influence the course of
national health within the global agenda and to mobilizing the support necessary to
translate will into action on Parliament Hill.

The council serves as a vessel and instrument of mobilizing constituencies, organizations


and other health departments, health associations and practitioners, as a national
grassroots in education and advocacy program that mobilizes support for improved
national health with an emphasis on the visible minority communities’ health.

The NHC and its local partners are committed to promoting “Good Health for all” and
host annual health forums and workshops to inform the general public and communities
across Canada of the vital relation between national and international health issues and
the quality of life in our local communities, and also share information and influence
policies on global AIDS/HIV activities and issues. The NHC also conduct research
analysis in collaboration with its national and international health partners, and provides
up to date and reliable information on what works and what does not work in health care,
and, also promotes the use on the information collected by health policy makers,
managers, health care practitioners, professional health associations which the focus areas
include the following:

I. Conducting systematic reviews of effects of national and global health


interventions and policies aimed at addressing national and international health
issues.

II. Promoting access to reliable information on health care.

III. Working together with national health care actors to advocate and promote
implementation of evidence-based research programs.

IV. Conducting policy analysis on targeted national health issues.

To achieve its goals and objectives, the NHC brings together the national actors in health
around key issues, which have been identified as critical to improving and promoting
equity. Directing our common efforts politically and practically will dramatically reduce
disease and death and improve health within the communities, as the centerpiece of the

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NHC grassroots efforts is to create a network of advocates in each of the FAAVM
Provincial Branch and to coordinate effective nationwide advocacy outreach and
awareness campaign based on the following key health issues.

I. Women’s health

II. Maternal and newborn health

III. HIV/AIDS

IV. Infectious diseases

V. Cancer/Diabetes

VI. Communicable diseases

VII. Adolescent health and nutrition

VIII. Psychosocial development and mental health

IX. Injuries and violence

Three principles guide the implementation of the strategic directions outlined in this
section: (1) addressing inequities and facilitating the respect, protection, and fulfillment
of human rights, as stipulated in internationally agreed human rights instruments
including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, (2) taking a life course approach that
recognizes the continuum from birth through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and
(3) implementing a public health approach by focusing on major health issues that
challenge populations as a whole and applying a systematic development model to ensure
the availability and accessibility of effective, relevant interventions to address them.
These principles form the basis for planning complementary efficient, and effective
intervention to protect the health of children, adolescent, and their families. In addition,
the guidance provided here reinforces the strategic directions set out in the NHC
corporate strategy.

The NHC also seeks technical guidance of health actors in order to achieve its goals and
to publish its annual reports through health forums, which main aims are to educate and
inform national and provincial communities on health policies and issues by also
providing adequate resourceful information on how to be protected against theses issues
and threats. The NHC annual health forums shall always be presented with special guest
speakers from all different health organizations and agencies providing educative
information sessions on all aspects of health related fields and key issues of the NHC
focus area.

THE GLOBAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES FOR PEACE – GOMP

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Created as an international and independent body, the Global Outreach Ministries for
Peace – GOMP works in conjunction with the federal Commission for the Advancement
of Women – FCAW to promote relevant peace matters, disarmament and global security,
national independence, economic and social justice, development cooperation, the
protection of the environment, human rights statues, the protection of cultural heritage,
national and international solidarity, and encouraging movement of liberation struggling
against imperialism.

The GOMP reinforces democratic, pluralist and non-aligned international movement of


mass action. In addition, GOMP is an integral part of the world peace movement and acts
in constant cooperation with other national and international organizations promoting
peace activisms, by initiating a broad coalition of movements, and the strengthening of a
secure and just peace for all the peoples from all the nations on earth. The mission and
purposes of the GOMP is in part inspired by the principles and standards set forth by the
United Nations Charter “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, the principles of
the Non-aligned movement and the final act of the Helsinki conference on security and
cooperation in Europe whereas, the prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction and
ending of the arms drive; the abolition of foreign military bases, total and universal
disarmament under effective international control. The principles hereunder noted
provide relevant instructions on the specific mission of GOMP.

I. Elimination of all forms of colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, sexism, and


other forms of discrimination.

II. Respect for the rights of the people to sovereignty and independence, essential
for the establishment of peace.

III. Non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.

IV. Establishment of mutually beneficial trade and cultural relations, based on


friendship and mutual respect.

V. Peaceful co-existence between States with different political systems.

VI. Negotiations instead of use of force in the settlement of differences between


nations and peoples.

The other complex portion of the mission of the GOMP consists of its commitment to
raising the level of public awareness by means of on going campaign, which mainly aim
at promoting individual peace, whereas, GOMP believes national and international peace
depends mostly on the realization of individual peace. In addition to this matrix
arrangement, GOMP also pledges to organize various activities in the same perspectives.
GOMP also organizes workshops and seminars conducted by spirituals experts in the
fields of individual peace, to help deal with specific human rights issues such as
xenophobia, fear, religions, racial discrimination, and other forms of discrimination.
These campaigns aim at conflict prevention, encourage intercultural understanding,

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strengthening fundamental values as human rights and cultural diversity, and to also
encourage exchanges between all peoples of all origins from all the different
communities across Canada.

These campaigns also encourage the accomplishment of a universal realm of interaction,


in which, they values the inter-connection and coexistence of the human race by
promoting the Will of the Almighty God the Creator of the Universe, whereas the love of
one another, and the love of God as humankind as God’s offspring. The Global Outreach
Ministries for Peace (GOMP) determines the annual guidelines of both the national and
international outreach ministries for peace in close consultation with the Federal
Commission for the Advancement of Women (FCAW) under the strict supervision of he
International Secretariat for Human Rights (ISHR).

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE OF CANADA - GRCC

Under the auspices of the International Secretariat for Human Rights (ISHR), the Global
Religious Conference of Canada (GRCC) promotes comprehensive approach of religious
doctrines and respect for religious differences and religious heritage, and religious
history, and also aims to protect the fundamental freedoms of religions. The core
functions and purposes of the GRCC also reflect on justice in the religions, economic,
political, international and family orders, and work to establish a common knowledge of
religious justice as a basis for action.

GRCC also aims to address the social and religious transformation of the Canadian
population and societies and the emergence of the multi-religious community by
organizing on going seminars and frameworks focusing on religious traditions and
freedom of religion, and religious belief, the history of religions, and religion practices
nationwide and around the globe.

GRCC also work to promote respect for all denominational and non-denominational
churches. The aims of GRCC is also to protect the faith, beliefs of the people of God
regardless of their religious belonging, by protecting faith, and above all charity in the
life of all Canadians of all ethnic origins. The work of GRCC is also based on the
juridical and legislative heritage of revelation and tradition as an essential instrument for
the preservation of “Right Order” both in individual and social life and in the religious
zeal of believers. The fundamental principles of the GRCC are authentically promulgated
by the Global Outreach Ministries for Peace (GOMP).

GRCC mission and purposes are also include the protection of the people of God and
their religious faiths, so they can freely individually and collectively participate in their
own ways in the priestly, prophetic and the promotion of their religious beliefs, to fulfill
their obligation and rights without persecution and interference, and to pursue their
spiritual path according to standards set forth by their religious ministers, priest and
clerics and may promote their beliefs and doctrines in accordance with national laws and
international standards.

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GRCC also promotes meaningful understanding of interfaith by promoting mutual
respect and recognition between all peoples and citizens belonging to a religion of choice,
and to fostering cooperation, compassion and peace in time of conflicts, whereas, Islam,
Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism may enjoy the practice of their faith and
beliefs without interference. The GRCC strives to bring together all people of all
religions of all corners of the globe within a unique setting and broad based spiritual
presence where religions, cultural and interfaith cooperation can be modeled.

THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS AGENCY – ICRA

The Canada Commission on Civil Rights (CCCR) endorsed the mission and purposes of
the ICRA, recognizing the importance of establishing and international human rights
body and organs, within the FAAVM Canada systems in accordance and conformity with
international human rights laws and human rights instruments, and mechanisms, civil
rights precepts and civil rights norms. Composed of a group of experienced experts in
humanitarian laws and statutes by maintaining close relationship with the international
humanitarian communities and organizations and government of other countries to
enhance international cooperation in order to protect Canadian citizens civil rights
whenever a violation occurs.

The functionalities, powers and jurisdiction are centralized on the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, The International Bill of Human Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, whereas and important aspect of ICRA’s mission is to promote, encourage
and enforce respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms nationally and
internationally for all Canadian citizens, without distinction as to race, sex, language or
religion and age, and may intervene by means of peaceful interventions and peaceful
advocacy in cases posing threats to national and international breach of peace and global
security. Since the global human rights machinery already established by the United
Nations and other international humanitarian organizations, the ICRA’s core role at the
international levels is to investigate citizen’s complaints and act as a third party to
monitor closely the application of international justice and fair and just treatment under
international human rights laws and statues.

FEDERAL FINES ENFORCEMENT DIVISION – FFED

The FFED operates under the authority of the Canada Commission on Civil Rights
statutes which form part of the FAAVM Canada Charter, as well as under the norms and
rules set forth by the Global Outreach Ministries for Peace (GOMP), which main powers
and functions to enforce national and international justice, and judgments issues by the
Canada Peace Tribunal (CPT) official documentation, whereby a conviction based on the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, the International Bill of Human Rights , which convictions have been
judicially and legally confirmed by the CPT, whereas Canadian Courts of law have issues
official judgment of conviction against the perpetrators.

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The FFED is the most powerful civil rights enforcement agency of the FAAVM
CANADA and in grave case of civil rights violations, enforce special and specific
measures ensuring the party of the victims are served Justice, and may in time proceed
with seizure of property, freezing of assets, confinement and other enforceable measure
adopted by the Canada Commission on Civil Rights which may deemed it necessary the
application of such measures for the application of justice

The FFED is also committed to work in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP), the regional and provincial Police Corps, and other law enforcement
entities to fulfill the mission of the FFED which mainly aim to furthering the principles
of the FAAVM Canada to secure, protect and enforce civil rights of all Canadian citizens.

The creation of the FFED represents the culmination of an important process of the
FAAVM CANADA civil tights enforcement operations, and also plays a vital role in the
application and administration of national and international justice to protect human
rights and civil rights within the entire Canadian nation, in conformity with the principles
of justice, national and international human rights laws, and, besides its legal mandate,
the FFED also represents an impartial authority which encourage and enforce compliance
with judgments and settlement of case by Canadian Courts of law, Canada Peace
Tribunal and also promote effectiveness of arbitration in the settlement of major human
rights disputes and grave civil rights violations.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

The FAAVM is an active supporter of legal, judicial and constitutional reforms that
addresses the needs of the poor, the most vulnerable, the disadvantaged, and the
underprivileged communities. The lead unit in this area, the Legal and Judicial Reform
Group (LJRG) of the FAAVM, works in close conjunction with governments, judges,
lawyers, scholars, civil society representatives, and other organizations to build better
legal institutions and judicial systems. Other areas of activities of Legal and Judicial
Reform Group (LJRG) include environmental and international law, and the role of legal
systems in private sector development, finance, and infrastructure.

Fighting poverty is central to the FAAVM’s mission. The LJRG considers a


comprehensive understanding of poverty and its possible solutions to be fundamental for
everyone involved in development. This understanding involves defining poverty,
studying trends over time, setting goals to reduce poverty, and measuring results. The
LJRG poverty reduction also provides resources and support for visible minority
communities working to alleviate poverty.

LJRG assist the SEDC in the fight against poverty by studying many areas of its
investments in sectors that have the most direct effect on living standards. Those include
the financial sector, infrastructure, science and technology, information, communication
technologies, health and education.

CHILD PROTECTION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

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PROTECTING UNDERPRIVILEGED AND DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child remains a vital instrument in FAAVM’s work
on the protection of children and adolescents. The National Child Protection Convention
(NCPC), and the National Youth Development Congress (NYDC) promote meaningful,
quality and positive participation of minority children and adolescents. The priority areas
for action are as follow:

1. Promoting healthy living and healthy lives.

2. Promoting quality education.

3. The “Visible Minority Child Welfare Act” legislative project.

4. The “Youth Protection Act” legislative project.

5. Protecting against abuse, exploitation and violence.

6. Launching Child Sexual Abuse Research-Study.

7. Youth Anti-Drug Campaign.

The NCPC also undertakes to conduct research programmes into the social and economic
impact and cost of institutional care, and inter-disciplinary research into the relation
between child welfare protection and areas such as drug and alcohol abuse and family
relationship breakdown. The FAAVM seeks to obtain government funding to collect
publication related to historical studies of institutional and other forms of out-of-care, as
this information be widely disseminated. The NCPC gathers this information in order to
establish a statistical database, which enables the design of intervention programmes and
special frameworks and workshops aiming to educate parents and families on socio-
political and sociocultural issues affecting the lives of children and adolescents.

THE NCPC DIVISION OF CHILD SAFETY

ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The NCPC Division of Child Safety (DCS) engages itself into developing and
establishing national community partnerships. The concept of community partnership
calls for a transformation from a single response agency to a system of shared
responsibility and mutual support, especially within disadvantaged communities,
underprivileged children and families. The DCS reflects a recognition that child
protection is brought about by a community operating formally and informally to protect
children. Thus, reform is directed not at a single agency but rather at a community and
culture with the aim of building collective responsibility, and reciprocity and mutual
support between individuals and institutions.

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The Division of Child Safety (DCS) also aims to organize activities to bring together all
levels of government, community agencies, and local residents in collectivity, by
implementing strategies for supporting families. The DCS also undertakes various study
activities, more specifically Study on Violence Against Children (SVAC) currently in
progress. The purpose of these studies is to inform the development of national and local
prevention and treatment strategies for all forms of violence against children. These
studies also aim to provide an in-depth summary of the extent to which children are
exposed to violence in their homes, their communities, and in their schools, which also
include the impact of armed conflicts on children.

The involvement of UNICEF and WHO and the efforts of NCPC in the Study on
Violence Against Children will aim to bring together key ideas, paradigms and languages
from a range of professional fields including children’s rights, public health and human
rights in general.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS (NYDC)

CAMPAIGNING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN CANADA

The NYDC exists to represent the views of young people at the national and local levels
by providing a voice for young people, enabling them to make their views and opinions
heard in the decision-making process. The NYDC also seeks to establish Local Minority
Youth Councils (LMYC), which main aim is to ensure that minority youth have a real
influence over their own lives and within their communities; above all by empowering
young minority people. NYDC and LMCY place them in a better position to actively
seek their own solutions to the problems faced in their present community. These
programmes will draw on existing national and international community activities, but
will also be based on arrangements for applying the open method of coordination in the
specific field of youth, and for taking more account of youth in other policies.

THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH PROGRAMME WITHIN FAAVM

The aim of the NYDC Youth programmes is to encourage young people to make an
active contribution to Canadian integration, to develop intercultural understanding,
strengthening fundamental values such as human rights and combating racism and
xenophobia, developing a sense of solidarity, encouraging a spirit of enterprise, initiative
and creativity, stimulating the recognition of non-formal education, and strengthening
cooperation on the part of all people active in the youth field.

The NYDC each year organizes the International Youth Parliament (IYP), and the
Canadian Youth House of Commons (CYHC) as special forums and frameworks to
enable young people from across Canada to interact within a real parliamentary
environment allowing them to express their concerns, issues affecting their communities,
their future and other vital aspects of the Canadian society. The IYP and CYHC
dimensions will also create a sense of dynamism and will stimulate creativity, encourage

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and enhance multicultural and multiethnic interaction and promote cultural diversity. It
will also help to create a common vision amongst Canadian youth of all origins,
nationalities, citizenship and religious belonging, and give a better idea of youth-related
issues.

The IYP and CYHC events gather young people from all parts of the country and
overseas, and aiming to raise national awareness on Canadian youth communities and
issues affecting these communities. The NYDC collects information deriving from these
activities, and prepares the North American Youth Papers (NAYP), a paper outlining the
current sociocultural, sociopolitical, socioeconomic, educational, religious, physical,
psychological situation of Canadian youth, more specifically visible minority youth.

PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE

The NYDC focuses on two important aspects: one is more formal and involves
mechanisms of representative democracy; the other is more informal and aims to develop
new forms or participation. Only by bearing in mind both these dimensions can we make
the most of the social capital that young people represent.

The NYDC course of action are based on the following principles:

• The importance of the local level;

• The need to extend participation beyond young people who belong to


organizations and beyond issues specific to youth;

• Schools remain one of the forums for participation and are given high priority;

• Helping disadvantaged young people to participate in public life and to collect


their opinions.

The Canadian Youth Forum (CYF) represents a very important activity in the NYDC’s
efforts to achieve its goals and objectives. The CYF is organized every two years mainly
to promote networking and direct dialogue, in particular by means of regular meetings.
To study and finance pilot projects to support efforts made at the local, regional, and
national levels to promote participation of young people at all levels and in all forms, and
also organizes the way young people are involved in the debate on the future of Canada.

Despite the more complex social, economic, political and religious context, the NYDC
strives to provide young people with adequate structural environment to be equipped to
adapt in present society, at the time of a crucial social transformation of the Canadian
society.

The FAAVM strongly believes that structuring young people and providing a climate and
environment where they can grow in health, peace and security, is a vital element to
contribute to strengthening local and national cultural diversity. The NYDC also believes

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that the realization of national social cultural and religious diversity begins with the
protection of children and the participation of young people in decision-making process,
whereas today’s young leaders are tomorrow’s world leaders.

FAAVM COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARK

Copyrights and Trademarks of the FAAVM Canada, falls under the jurisdiction of the
International Civil Rights Agency (ICRA), whereas policies and procedures in relation to
information contained on the FAAVM official website, television advertisement, public
and private publication, and other forms of publications are protected by Copyright and
Trademark laws.

Permission to use, copy and distribute information including text published and graphics
the FAAVM official websites are printed only for internal use and may not be modified
in any ways, or use, or copy or distribute, apart from any copyright or trademark notices.
The FAAVM Canada reserves the right to change, and modify any information without
notice.

FAAVM CANADA PRIVACY STATEMENT

Privacy statement falls under the authority of the Information Solutions Group (ISG) and
is committed to maintaining a database and website that protects individuals and other
organization’s rights to privacy. ISG do not require personal information from our
visitors, nor do we collect personally identifying information such as: name, email
address, social insurance number or other unique identifier unless you knowingly provide
the information. Likewise, ISG does not disclose, give nor transfer any personal
information to a third party except as might be required by law. When provide or pledge
any on line donation or purchase, any of our available services or products, or
membership subscription, using credit card payment or checking, other forms of
payment, the information provided shall only be used to process the requests and not to
share with a third party nor inappropriate solicitations.

INFORMATION SOLUTIONS GROUPS DATA COLLECTION FOR


STATISTICS

To aid in website management and operations, certain information will be collected for
statistical purposes. ISG may at its discretion use specialized software to create summary
statistic, which are used for such purposes as assessing what information is of most and
least interest to our members determining technical design specification systems, and
identifying system performance or problem area, as well as specific survey relating to the
overall FAAVM operations, such as socio-economic, cultural, religious and political
public opinion gathering and areas of operations to improve.

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© Copyrighted FAAVM Publications Group

All rights reserved 2005

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